Control for posture chairs



Jan. 22, 1957 G. A. SODERBERG 2,778,409

CONTROL FOR POSTURE CHAIRS Filed April 28, 1955 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i, -1 l 46 45 Lu f 2 7 3 54; 58 42 4.5 i i 2e .Z-

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS,

G. A. SODERBERG 2,778,409

Jan. 22, 1957 CONTROL FORPOSTURE CHAIRS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS :42 43 4/ 79 I wy w 2,778,409 CONTRDLFDR ros'runncrmas Gustaf A. 'soderberg, Bridgeport, -"Conn., *assignor, by

direct and mesne assignments, of th'irty three and I onefllirrlpercent )H. Manton Klilbcrg 1am] thirty three :and one-third percent :to :Siegfi'ied J. 'Ullmann, :Stratford, Conn.

Application Api'il'28, 1'955,"S'ei'ial"N 0. 504,476

28 wC-lailns. ((Gl. 155- l52) ,This invention relates to chair controls, particularly to;a control 'forposture fihairs,.and especially .to the con- 'trdl or iron for supporting ,theiseat ofZthe-chah ,and an improved means .for tiltab'ly and .adiustably supporting the "back rest, and has for .an object to .provide improved control for this type of chair wherein .a heavy counterbalancing coil spring or springs or =rubhercylinders are not required for supporting and controlling the backward movement of .the back support.

It 'is also an object toprovide a construction of chair "control .or iron for this type of chair 'in which the .con-

trol of the rearward tilting movement flf-ithe backrest and support is effected by ,torsional'movementtand stress in 'av'hea't-treated alloy steel "bar.

Another object is to,prouide a chair-control in which the construction permits use of thevres'ilient action of the torque barffor the tilting support and control of the back rest, and is such as to provide a uniform torsion action in the tilting operation.

.lA .fur'ther objectlis to provide .a control for [this type of chair which does not require .such replaceable parts 'as coiled springs or rubber cylinders, .and in which .no heavy hand tool or instrument will be required [for regulating the tension'o'lf the control -for'backwardmove- 'ment of the back rest.

A still Ifurther ,oljject is to provide .a construction ,in which thetorque bar for controlling theibackwardimove ment .of the back rest may The so constructed .and arranged that it will .not materially build "up or increase the torsional stress when the 'back rest isi tilted -1backwardly,1-b,utwliich can be dfi'alength andsoconstructed that 'it will maintain substantially the :same. torsional stress throughout its movement :and therefore will .not materially build up or increase this stress by movement, as would ,coil springs and similar controls. Ibis will also decrease the liability of breakage and @greatly increasefits life. i

"With .the foregoing and other objects in view, 1 have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming "a part ofth'is specification. It is, howevento be understood-the inventionis not limited to the specific details of construction 'and arrangement -shown, but may embody various changes and modifica- 'tions within 'the 'scope of the invention.

Hn these -drawings:

Fig. l is a side view of the seat and baek rest'su'pport :for :a :posture \"chnir ainvolving rthis invention, the ibase or :feet zofrthe-zchair motbeing shown;

Fig. A2 is :a front \view with (the back rest. omitted;

.-Fig. .3 a top plan view, and

Fig.4 -is aeside .viewof the control or iron.

As above suggested thisinvention relates to the con- ,trol or support for a so-called posture chair, comprising a seat .10 and a back support comprising the back rest 11 carried at the upper ,ends of suitable supporting bars 1'2. The seat 'is mounted on "laterally spaced stationary right and left hand 'spider arms 13 and 1'4 respectively, and "may be secured to these arms by any suitable means, such, for example, as :screws through the openings 15 in these arms. These arms inthe form shown .are in the form of vmetal angle bars, including upright flanges =16 .securedby any suitable means, such, vfor example, as rivets 17, to upright supports :18 .com- .prising upright -;plates .of suitable thickness mounted on forwardly and rearwardly extending arms 19 and .20 and secured thereto by :any suitable means such, for example, .as rivetsfzl, thearms 19 and 20 beingpart-of the control body member 22. This body member may be .of difierent .forms, but as shown comprises an elongated member of substantially U-shaped cross section extending transversely offthe chair seat, and including longitudinally .spaced upright .side members (23 and .a

connecting bottom member .24, these members :being conv,nected at their topposite ends .by .the upright transverse end walls 25 .and .at their center bya boss or block .26, which ,also extended downwardly from the lower wall 24, as indicated .at 217, and has a socket to receive the reduced upper \end 2820f the screw post 29 :by which this supporting structure may be supported on any suitable type .of base or feet of .the chair (not shown).

.It will .be seen from this construction that the chair seat and .its support comprising @the .spider arms .13 and 14 do .not tilt, but .are stationary with vthe arms 13 and '14 extendinglfromlheffront to thereanof the seat. However, -.t'he back rest .and its supporting-arms or bars are tiltable backwardly .and also are adjustable "for varying the heightthereof. This back :rest andsupporting control I 30 is mounted onthe bodyimemberlland istiltable relative thereto. This .support .for .the .back rest comprises a tilting .rear frame 30 including .a transversely extending upright bar or plate 31 with forwardly extending upright end .members 32 .at its opposite ends, and there .is also a forwardly extending flange 33 at the upper edge of the bar 31. The opposite end walls 32 are connected by any suitable means, such, for example, as welding, to supporting-plates 34, and .these plates and the end walls 32 .have a pivotal bearing .on a transversely extending torque bar 35 supported atlits opposite ends in :suitable bearings 36 and 37 in ithevend walls .25 .of -.the body memberZZZ. The bearing 37 at the right handendiof the :body

12 vcomprises a laterally extending boss .38 :on :the supporting;plate.34.extending into an openinglinthe end wall 25 of the .body and adapted to turn thereinsto-form-asup- .port .forone end of the tilting frame .30. The other end of this frame comprising the :end wall 32 of the support- .ing ,plate 34 is supported on the projecting end of the torque -bar 35. Thus the torque bar 35 "extends through openings in the end walls 25of .the body member, and .also through the end walls v3:2 of .the tilting frame and the supporting plates34. On the right hand end (of the torque .bari35 isa torque bar adjustingholder 39 secured to the barby any suitable means, such, for example as the set screws 40 and carrying a laterally extending -ad- Qjusting arm 41 engaging .the .free end of the adjusting screw 42 threaded .into a laterally extending slug 43 on .the bracket arm'44 projecting downwardly and laterally from the laterally extendingann 19 .of the body member .12, and on this screw is a hand wheel 45 iortoperating ittoishift the arm 41and adjust the tension in the torsion eor torque bar 35. The opposite end (of this torsion or .torquelbar is bentlaterallyas shown at -46, and anchored =atiits itree end to-"one side of the end1wall32 of the frame .30by a torque bar 'lockingi'means 47. This l'ockin'the r-form shown comprises a :fla't bar secured :to the end wall 32 by a bolt 48, and 'at its opposite end includes a loop 49 em'bracingthe end 460i the torque bar with its free end extending through an opening in the end wall 32 and bent *downwardlytotorrn a locking "flange 5010 thus securely lock this bar to the frame 30 and thus securely Patented Jann22, 19.57

lock the laterally extending free end 46 of the torque bar 45 to this frame.

The back rest and its support is mounted on the tilting frame 30, this mounting means comprising a rear frame support 51 including a horizontal top wall 52 the front end portion of which is secured to the top flange 33 of the tilting frame 39 by any suitable means, such, for example, as Welding, as indicated at 53. The opposite ends of the frame 51 comprise downwardly extending end walls 54 having laterally extending flanges 55 at their front edges secured to the upright Wall 31 of the frame 30 by any suitable means, which may also be welding. The upright bars or supports 12 for the back rest are secured to an upright rear plate 56 mounted for vertical adjustment as well as angular adjustment in the frame support 51. For this purpose there are pivotally mount ed on the end walls 54 of this frame a pair of upright tilt carriers 57 comprising upright plates each pivotally connected to one of the end walls 54 by a pivot stud S, and the members 57 are connected by a transverse plate 59 having lugs 60 at its opposite ends passing through openings in the members 57 and riveted over to secure them together. The tilt carrier members 57 have inwardly extending upright flanges 61 spaced backwardly from the plate 5?, and located between these flanges and the plate are the opposite edge portions 62 of a lock plate 63 secured to the plate 56 by any suitable means, such as the rivets 64. By this means the plates 56 and 63 may be vertically adjusted by sliding movements on the flanges 61 and then clamped or locked in adjusted position by a locking bolt 65 mounted at its inner end 66 in the plate 59, and threaded at its opposite or outer end in the shank 67 of a hand wheel 68. By turning this wheel, plates 56 and 63 may be clamped in adjusted position to vary the height of the back rest 11. This movement is permitted by bolt 65 passing through an upright elongated slot in plate 59.

The angular position of this back rest with respect to the seat may also be adjusted because the supporting members 57 are pivotally secured to the rear frame support 5ft by the pivot studs 53. It may be secured in different angular positions by suitable locking means, in the present case by means of a pair of side clamps 69 located on the outside of the members 57 and secured thereto by the pivot studs 58 and the transversely extending locking bolt '70. This bolt extends through the end walls 54 of the rear frame support 51, and through the members 69, as Well as curved slots 71 in the members 57 struck about the pivot studs 58 as centers. Between the side walls 54 this bolt is enclosed in a tube or sleeve 72 engaging at its opposite ends on the inner sides of the walls 54, the bolt having a head '73 at one end and threaded at its opposite end 74 in a T handle 75 by which, after angular adjustment of the tilting carriers 57 they may be secured in the adjusted position by tightening up this T handle and clamping the parts between the ends of the sleeve 72, the head of the bolt and the T handle.

The tilting action of the tilting frame 51 and the adjustable support for the back rest thereon is controlled by the torsional stress in the torque bar 35, which may be a heat-treated steel alloy bar. As will be seen, during the backward tilting movement of the frame 51 the right hand end of the torque bar 35 is held stationary by the member 39 and its arm 41 engaging the end of the adjusting screw 42. frame 51 on the bar 35 will swing its laterally bent free end 46 downwardly, and this movement will place a torsional stress on the bar 35, which when backward pressure on the back rest is released will return the frame 51 and the back rest carried thereby to its normal upright position. The torsional stress of the torque bar 35 may be adjusted to increase or decrease it by means of the adjusting screw 42. It will be seen, however, that as the bar 35 is of considerable length and the movement Backward tilting movement of the a backward tilting movement.

will not be a materially built up or increased stress in the bar 35 by this backward tilting movement, and therefore this construction will maintain substantially the same torsional tension or stress throughout the tilting movement. It will be seen this is a much simpler construction than that required where coiled springs or rubber sleeves are used, and furthermore, that such springs and sleeves have a varying stress which increases materially on the It will also be seen that the back rest can be readily adjusted both for height and for angular positions with respect to the seat to secure a proper and comfortable posture.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. In a chair control of the character described, an elongated body member including transverse upright end walls at its opposite ends, a supporting post to which said body is secured, laterally spaced backwardly and forwardly extending seat supporting spider arms mounted on the body adjacent its opposite ends, a torque bar extending longitudinally of the body and supported adjacent its opposite ends in said end walls, a rearwardly extending frame pivotally mounted on the body for backward tilting movement, a back rest carried by said frame, one end of the torque bar being fixed and the other end being bent laterally forming a laterally extending arm, and means locking said arm to the tilting frame to place a torque strain on the bar as the frame is tilted backwardly.

2. In a chair control of the character described, an elongated transversely extending body member including upright end walls at its opposite ends, a supporting post to which said body is secured, backwardly and forwardly extending seat supporting spider arms mounted on the body adjacent its opposite ends, a torque bar extending longitudinally of the body and through openings in said end Walls, a rearwardly extending tiltable frame including side members at its opposite ends supported on said bar, means for supporting a back rest on said frame, means for securing one end of the bar against turning, the other end of the bar being bent laterally forming a laterally extending arm, and locking means locking said arm to the frame to place a torque strain on the bar by backward tilting movement of the frame.

3. In a chair control of the character described, an elongated transversely extending body member of substantially U-shape in cross section including spaced side walls and a connecting wall between them, said body also including upright end walls between the side walls, a torque bar extending longitudinally of the body between the side walls and mounted in openings in the end walls, means holding one end of the bar against turning, the other end of the bar being bent laterally forming a laterally extending arm, a rearwardly extending frame including end members pivotally mounted on said bar for backward tilting movements of the frame, means locking said laterally extending arm to the frame to place a torque strain on the bar by tilting movements of the frame, means for supporting a back rest on the frame, and stationary forwardly and backwardly extending seat supporting spider arms mounted on the body adjacent its opposite ends.

4. In a chair control of the character described, an elongated transversely extending body member, a support for said member, backwardly and forwardly extending seat supporting spider arms mounted on the body, a torque bar extending longitudinally of the body including a laterally extending arm at one end, means securing the other end of the bar against turning, a rearwardly extending tiltable frame pivotally connected to the body for rearward and downward tilting movements, means for mounting a back rest on said frame, and means locking said laterally extending arm to said frame to place a torque stress on the bar by backward tilting movement of the frame.

5. In a chair control of the character described, an elongated transversely extending body member including upright end walls, a support for said body, forwardly and backwardly extending seat supporting spider arms mounted on the body, a longitudinally extending torque bar mounted in the body in openings in said end walls and including a laterally extending arm at one end, adjustable means securing the other end against turning, a rearwardly extending frame including side members pivotally mounted on said bar for backward and downward tilting movement, means locking said laterally extending arm to the adjacent end member of the frame to place a torque stress on the bar by backward tilting movement of the frame, and means for mounting a back rest on said frame.

6. In a chair control of the character described, an elongated transversely extending body member, forwardly and backwardly extending seat supporting spider arms mounted on the body, a rearwardly extending tiltable frame pivotally connected to the body for rearward and downward tilting movement, resilient control means resisting said tilting movements, said frame including laterally spaced side members, a back rest support ineluding an upright rear plate, means pivotally mounting said plate on the frame, a back plate, means mounting the back plate on said rear plate for up and down adjustment and securing it in adjusted positions, and back rest supports mounted on the back plate.

7. In a chair control of the character described, an elongated transversely extending body member, forwardly and backwardly extending seat supporting spider arms mounted on the body, a rearwardly extending tiltable frame pivotally connected to the body for rearward and downward tilting movement, resilient control means resisting said tilting movements, said frame including an upright transversely extending back plate and forwardly extending side members pivoted to the body member, a rear frame support including a top plate and upright side members secured to the tiltable frame, a tiltable carrier compising an upright plate and side members pivoted to the rear frame support for angular adustrnent, means for locking the carrier in different angular positions, and back rest supporting means mounted on the carrier.

8. In a chair control of the character described, an elongated transversely extending body member, forwardly and backwardly extending seat supporting spider arms mounted on the body, a rearwardly extending tiltable frame pivotally connected to the body for rearward and downward tilting movement, resilient control means resisting said tilting movements, a carrier mounted on said frame including an upright plate and side members including upright flanges spaced rearwardly from said plate, a back plate at the rear side of the flanges, a lock plate secured to the back plate and having its upright side edges located between the flanges and the upright plate for up and down adjustment with the back plate, means for locking the lock plate and back plate in different adjusted positions, and back rest supporting means mounted on the back plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,779 Hobson Dec. 10, 1878 1,775,433 Krabol Sept. 9, 1930 1,849,073 Collier Mar. 15, 1932 2,321,385 Herold June 8, 1943 2,624,396 Spraragen Jan. 6, 1953 2,718,257 Lie Sept. 20, 1955 

